National Republican., 1887-05-23
CONSULAR REPORTS

Consul Underwood, Of Glasgow, gives
the following information on the subject
OF British shipping interests aud plotc .tlon
Of seamen:
mo vessels are now built of wood any.
where In this district, excepting fishing
vessels aud some yachts, and any wooden
vessels now registered are few In number,
old, and disappearing. Vessels are wholly
constructed OF iron, or, IN preference, Of
steel. The returns Of the five ports are EN-
braced In tabular statement, herewith In.
closed, and to 1t | have appended a trans
cript OF the registered tonnage Of four
other ports for the year ending Dec 81,
1854, that being the latest printed return |
have been able TO find. The amount of ship
ping In the four ports is small, aud has not
probably greatly increased since the date
mentioned.
"There are In the Glasgow directory
sixty five names Of shipbulders and ship
building companies and firms, and their
yards extend for many miles on both sides
Of the clyde, and in the harbors and estua
ries on the wust coast. Acting upon the
advice OF AN illGer In the service Of an
association Of shipowners, addressed let
tiers to twenty four indi ividuals, companies,
and firms engaged In shipbui ding, making
proper inquiries, and have received replies
from most OF them. The replies are SO
varied that II is not easy to tahulate them,
and have, therefore, made All abstract iu
regard to the whole, which is herewith In
closed.
There is no bounty or aid, direct or In
direct, granted by government In favor OF
shipbuilding; nor have any bounties been
granted for ship navigation"
Consul Underwood also gives some In.
teresting facts concerning "Americau aud
Scotch butter aud cheese" On the XII.
marnock cheese fair, In recent report, he
says:
"American UNITED States) cheese Is
quoted from SO to "a shilIings. IL is to be
uOted. however, that Uuited States cheese
Ia IN II certain sense rated above what would
be It's true value; because, as IL natures
quickly land spoils quickly IT. comes to
this country ready for consumption little
before Scotch aud Canadian cheeses are at
their hest. 1t therefore fills gap, and
obtains comparatively fair price for
short time: but II Is not In demand upon
the best tables after Its rivals are in good
condition. Upon this poiut the statistics
of importation from the United States for
the last three years are instructive.
The amount imported into Glasgow IN
1884 was $50, 1877 boxes, equal to 1,200 tons;
In 1885, 1853, ,73i boxes, equal to 4,724 tons,
and In 1856, l3O,O72 boxes, equal to 3,642
tons.
"rhe chief source Of damage to cheeses
is undue warmth, which sweats them, dis.
integrates them and changes their n ivor.
The deterioration begins at home lin the
United States), 1t Is increased In transit by
railway, and more by exposure to the sun
on the sidewalks aud wnarves OF city,
and II is further increased during the ocean
VOYAGE, ESPECIALLY In summer. the holds Of
steamships being excessively hot. Cheeses
| hnr N a sb u i'm,
tion, their verv looks being calculated to
deepen the prevailing prejudice against
foreign productions. If the importation of
cheese from the United States is to be
maintained or increased. some means must
be found not only to make them In the best
way, but to secure them from the disastrous
effects Of heat from the time they leave the
dairy until they are landed here. II would
seem that II attention were given to the
matter, as is done In reference to beef, the
cheese might be sent over In cool storerooms,
or, at least, In more reasonable tempera
ture than at present
"rhe cheeses at this fair were quite uni.
form as to shape, though differing greatly
IN size. The shape Is that OF kcg or drum
and the size about IL or II inches In height
and the same In diameter. The cleeses
had their natural color, dull lemon shade,
and few OF them showed the presence of
artificial color when cut, excepting the
Scotch Cheddars. The flavor OF the prize
cherses was bland, though rich. The flavor,
doubtless, becomes more pronounced with
age. feel confident that the cheese OF the
best makers In New York is IN no way In.
ferlor to that which had the gold medal
yesterday.
"Butter Is shown In three forms-fresh,
powdered, and cured. Powdered butter
is slightly salted, and cured butter is
salted enough to keep through the season,
IL appears to me impossible for United
States dealers to send good butter here aud
realize any adequate price forit. The pre-
vailing taste is for fresh or powdered
butter, which cannot be delivered here in
good condition. Butter which is cured
loses It's delicate flavor. and foreign arti
Gle will not be bought, except for cooking.
And against this there is the competition OF
oeomargarine, mostly made on the cont.
nent by mixing fresh milk with the ex
pressed oil of suet drought generally from
the United States), which from its cheap.
ness Is almost universally used.
"The vegetables were many of them very
fine, but most were remarkable only for
enormous size. The potatoes were smooth
shapely, and of fair size There were tur-
nips OF various kinds, from to 10 inches In
diameter, and mangel wurtzels as large as
mans thigh, and from i2 to 16 inches long.
There were specimens also of wheat, oats,
seeds. Also, dairy and table salt of the
first quality"
Commercial Agent Waller, at Dunferm
line, Scotland, in an article on Farm
Rents IN Scotland" says:
"One of the most striking facts con-
nected with the agricultural depression In
Scotland is the remarkable decline in farm
rents. or course very many reductions In
rents are made which do not become known
to the general public; but the most re-
markable examples are widely discussed
and cannot be misunderstood Competent
authorities estimate that the decline In tue
value OF farm products during the last few
years amounts to about $40 an acre-the
rent of good farm The price or potatoes,
for example, has fallen off something like
$40 ton.
"Naturaly there is considerable demand
for the revaluation of farms aud general
readjustment OF rents 1t is about all
farmers can do to make both ends meet
indeed, many OF them are being forced into
bankruptcy.
"The Scotch farmer thinks that he finds
q plain case Of cause and effect in American
competition and low prices. lie is obliged
TO compete with American wheat, beef,
bacon, cheese, and other products, and no
finds IL an exceedingly difficult business.
Prices have continued to decline for some
years. The fall In wheat since January,
1888, has been about 10 shillings per In.
perial quarter, and during the same period
potatoes have declined about 80 sterling
per ton. These are the chief products of
the Scotch farm.
"The balance sheet OF an Ayrshire farmer
for 1886 has been published. II is as follows:
Received; t. s. d.
Grain. Observation-Disclosures. 40 III 0
| Green crop ......".... .,......,.,.... l3 q
Hay. ........,............... 90 10 d
stock Observation-Disclosures. 40 u o